Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: May 26, 2013
May 26, 2013 –– The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Prv 8: 22-31; Ps 8: 4-9; Rom 5: 1-5; Jn 16: 12-15
Today is The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. A “Solemnity” is the highest-ranking Holy Day possible in our Church calendar (followed by a Feast, and then a Memorial). Pope John XXII instituted this Holy Day in the 14th Century.
The Most Holy Trinity is perhaps the most fundamental belief we have as Catholics and Christians. We can never fully understand the mystery of the Trinity, but we can sum it up in the following formula: God is three Persons in one Nature. The three Persons of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — are all equally God, and They cannot be divided.
All the readings for this Holy Day include the idea of the Holy Trinity. The first reading from The Book of Proverbs presents a segment of Chapter 8, The Discourse of Wisdom. This chapter is one of the most significant sections of the Old Testament — a major influence on both Jewish and Christian thought. It represents that the Holy Trinity was there before the beginning — “When the Lord established the heavens, I was there.”… “and I found delight in the human race.” God created all, but God also wanted to be close to and to interact with humankind.
The second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans amplifies the idea of the Trinity and of God’s complete interaction with us His flock. Paul’s letter was written to the Roman Christian community to make it clear to them that they were justified by faith, not by law. Paul’s use of particular words in this short passage is noteworthy. In just a few sentences he includes “faith, peace, grace, glory” and most of all “hope.” As Paul reminds us “…hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
The Gospel from John parallels the first reading. However, it also portrays our own relationship to Jesus at times. The Lord begins by saying to the disciples, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.” Isn’t that the way we sometimes relate to God? We want to know and understand everything. It was not possible for the Apostles, who were so close to Him, and it is not possible for us. Jesus makes reference to all three elements of the Holy Trinity in this Gospel passage. Just as the Apostles do not fully grasp the complete meaning, neither do we.
The reason we celebrate the Holy Trinity goes back to the thought that God wanted to be a part of our lives; God wanted to interact with us; God wanted to love us and the Lord wanted us to love in return. This Holy Trinity Sunday should bring us to serious reflections as to how we can love God completely. Living out our love for God in this world is quite simply stewardship. It is through stewardship that we can fully express our love for God. It is through stewardship that we can fully appreciate God’s love for us.
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection: May 26, 2013
May 26, 2013 –– The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Prv 8: 22-31; Ps 8: 4-9; Rom 5: 1-5; Jn 16: 12-15
It would seem appropriate on this Most Holy Trinity Sunday that we focus on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in light of a stewardship way of life. Stewardship has been defined as “the grateful and responsible use of God’s gifts in the light of God’s purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ. Christian stewards, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to conscious, purposeful decisions.”
In other words, just as the Blessed Trinity is no accident, neither is stewardship. It is our response to God’s gifts. Furthermore, it involves us making “conscious and purposeful” decisions about how we will live our lives, and how we will use the many gifts we have received to serve God and to serve God’s purposes.
In today’s Gospel from John, the Lord proclaims that the Holy Spirit will “guide you to all truth.” Stewardship is truth; it is the way we are called to see our lives and to live our lives. It is a God-centered way of living. Catholic Christian stewardship is using the gifts God has given us, to do the work God has called us to do. One of the primary objectives of our lives is to discern and carry out God’s purpose for us. What is our personal mission? Do you hear God’s call to be truer within your faith and beliefs?
Msgr. Thomas McGread: What NOT to do to Begin Stewardship at Your Parish
Editor’s note: The passing of our friend and longtime advisor Msgr. Thomas McGread in April was a tremendous loss to all who came to know him and work with him in developing stewardship as a way of life. But Msgr. McGread’s legacy will continue to live on through our work and through this blog, as we are fortunate to have in our archives many of his writings and teachings. The Catholic Steward will continue to share these with our followers as we continue to live Msgr. McGread’s vision for stewardship and evangelization in the Church.
When I arrived at St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita in the 1960s, I was the fourth priest assigned to the parish in three years. So, as you can easily understand, it wasn’t’ a very happy situation. It was quite a challenge.
You can imagine the rumblings at St. Francis in regard to the clergy situation. Furthermore, the finances were in terrible shape. So, one of the things I suggested to the leaders of the parish – which I had done at the parishes I was at beforehand – was to develop stewardship as a way of life.
Both the pastoral and financial council wouldn’t hear of it. They said, “no we cannot do that above all things,” and, so, I asked them what they were going to try instead. They tried a variety of things, and some of their efforts got me into all kinds of trouble – as if I was supporting them.
One of the things the councils decided to do – which was popular at the time – was to publish the names of people and how much money they gave. Of course I told them it would be a disaster, but the only one who paid for it was myself when angry parishioners kept calling. From then on, I made sure the numbers of the members of the councils were posted so they could receive the angry responses instead.
The councils were perplexed why I would be bothered, and I told them it was because I opposed the whole idea and I didn’t want any of the parishioners thinking I was OK with it.
Finally, when it didn’t work, the councils came back to me and said they would try what I originally wanted to do – develop stewardship. With that, everything began to change.
Msgr. Thomas McGread: Teaching Our Children the Importance of Stewardship
Editor’s note: The passing of our friend and longtime advisor Msgr. Thomas McGread in April was a tremendous loss to all who came to know him and work with him in developing stewardship as a way of life. But Msgr. McGread’s legacy will continue to live on through our work and through this blog, as we are fortunate to have in our archives many of his writings and teachings. The Catholic Steward will continue to share these with our followers as we continue to live Msgr. McGread’s vision for stewardship and evangelization in the Church.
Stewardship is a gift that we need to teach our children. When they are growing up, they watch what their parents do with their time and learn from it.
Fr. Patrick Peyton, a great man involved with the Family Rosary Crusade, once said, “A family that prays together stays together.” When I first heard the statement years ago, I thought it was powerful and I think it’s still important today.
When parents pray with their children at home they see how their parents are dependent on Almighty God. For children, especially little ones, parents serve that role of God because the little children depend on their parents for their housing, food, and everything else.
So, parents can use praying together as a way to teach children about our dependence on God for everything and how all of our gifts – our time, our talents, and our treasure – are gifts from God. Building lessons of proper use of time will begin to teach the little children how to take their first steps of stewardship.
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: May 19, 2013
May 19, 2013 –– Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2: 1-11; Ps 104: 1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Cor 12: 3B-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23
Jesus appears to the disciples for the first time, and the Lord says, “Peace be with you.” He shows them His hands and His side, and then He says it again, “Peace be with you.” Is there a reason He says this? There were so many ways He could address them.
The readings for this Pentecost Sunday are filled with the Holy Spirit — from the first reading from Acts: “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit,” to the second reading from 1 Corinthians: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…and we were all given to drink of one Spirit,” to the Gospel from John, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
In the first reading from Acts we learn how the Holy Spirit permeates the Church throughout the world. On that first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit entered all those present, they each heard the Word of God in their native tongues. This is considered to be the absolute beginning of the Church. Thus, Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition #767: “When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent of the day of Pentecost in order that He might continually sanctify the Church.”
St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written because of the divisions that had developed among the Christian community in Corinth. In this particular reading Paul speaks of community — community that is cemented by the Holy Spirit, and in which each person, through the stewardship of her or his gifts, contributes to the good of the whole: “To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” This is in effect the universal call to each of us to be good stewards: to recognize that we are gifted by God through the Holy Spirit, and that we are an intricate part of the Body of Christ. “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.”
It is in the Gospel of John nonetheless that we can grasp the completeness of the Holy Spirit. As stated Jesus announces Himself — greets the disciples — by saying “Peace be with you.” Jesus is not hoping that they will feel the peace of His presence; He is gifting it to them. That is important to understand — His greeting is not a wish; it is a gift. What he said most likely was “Shalama,” the Aramaic version of the Hebrew Shalom. Some words just do not translate well, and this is one of them. Yes, Shalama means “peace,” but it means much more than that. It is a greeting and a farewell. It means “complete peace.” It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, wellbeing, and harmony. In fact, Aramaic scholars say it means all of the following: completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the complete absence of discord.
This is the Lord’s gift to us as well. Everything in that word Shalama is what we strive for. It is through stewardship, through our ability to find our place in the Body of Christ through the Holy Spirit, that we might achieve the kind of peace Jesus presents to us.
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection: May 19, 2013
May 19, 2013 –– Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2: 1-11; Ps 104: 1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Cor 12: 3B-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23
The readings for this Pentecost Sunday abound with stewardship messages and imagery. In a brief deliberation it is impossible to mention all, let alone expound upon them. Nevertheless, the second reading from 1 Corinthians includes two phrases that absolutely capture the quintessence of stewardship.
St. Paul asserts: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit.” This is tantamount to the oft-quoted declaration, “Everything we are and everything we have comes from God.” All of the readings on Pentecost emphasize the Holy Spirit — also known as Holy Ghost, Paraclete, Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, and Helper — and how this Spirit pervades our lives and imbues us with all that is holy.
St. Paul adds: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” Benefit to whom? Certainly, it is a benefit to us as individuals, so that we can use those gifts to help God and assist others. That is stewardship — using the gifts we have received to build the Kingdom of God and to serve and comfort others.
Our challenge is to identify those gifts; channel those gifts in ways they can be shared; and, develop those gifts so they enrich all of those around us.
Fr. Dave Zimmer: The Hopefulness of Spring
While springtime weather has arrived for pretty much the entire country, I can’t help but think about the long winter we had here in North Dakota, and how the hopefulness of spring begins each year around the middle of January.
Although many don’t openly admit it, as mid-January approaches, we begin thinking that we are on the “downhill” slide of winter, and there is a hidden feeling of hopefulness that is born within us. It is a positive feeling even if the snow is blowing outside and the wind is howling. We begin to realize it is only temporary and we will soon be able to start thinking of the new growth, warmer weather, and less time spent “bundling up” before stepping outside that is finally upon us. The first sign for me is when I get into the car, fasten my seat belt and notice there is more room between the steering wheel and me. The coat is less bulky, even if I’m not. What a great feeling that is! To what can I compare this feeling of hopefulness?
Each time I think of the Stewardship way of life, I know that I am experiencing a kind of hopefulness that compares to the dawn of another spring. It is hopeful because all kinds of possibilities await a new spring, and so it is also with the stewardship way of life. Each spring we anticipate what will grow this year and what will eventually nourish our lives and strengthen our faith. Even before a planting season begins, seeds lie dormant with the hopefulness of the sprouting of new growth and the expectation of positive results. We know we are also at the mercy of the right conditions necessary for the season of growth and the care and time we must give to the soil to insure it is fertile ground for what we hope for and what we expect. While there are always other obstacles we may face before we see the results, the power of hopefulness is always there.
Throughout the year, the parish is preparing, planting, tending or caring for its harvest of ministries and parishioner commitments to time, talent and treasure. There is a hopefulness that each year we will grow in our spiritual lives and our relationship with the Lord as well as our connection to the parish family to which we belong. Living the stewardship way of life encourages the hopefulness that will make us better disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our faith can blossom and with it our commitment to discipleship. Our faith will be as vibrant as the freshness and anticipated growth of plants breaking through the fresh new earth. The buds on the trees that appear stagnant and dry are indeed filled with new life and, at a designated time, blossoms into what is again possible for another year.
Stewardship does more than just blossom. It transforms what may appear to be just dirt or soil into a beautiful garden that makes us appreciate and be grateful for God’s creation. Stewardship transforms people’s lives from what seems ordinary into extraordinary discipleship of Christ. I don’t find it difficult at all to compare the stewardship way of life as a sign of hopefulness and the springtime growth of a garden or the blossoming of the trees. I am reminded of a scene I have just described each time we sing that beautiful hymn, “Lord of all Hopefulness.” I am reminded that even as He hung upon the cross for us, He gave hope to the world. His resurrection confirmed it.
Our stewardship prepares us, “tills” the soil of our hearts, and instills a hopefulness that compares only to the springtime that we all anticipate and await. Isn’t God good? Isn’t God generous in His love for us? Isn’t it time for us to be more hopeful, appreciative and responsible of the gifts God has provided? Don’t you think it is a good thought to think about as we the hopefulness of another spring is upon us?
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: May 12, 2013
May 12, 2013 –– The Ascension of the Lord
Acts 1: 1-11; Ps 47:1, 2-3, 6-9; Eph 1: 17-23; Lk 24: 46-53
There is something brilliantly appropriate about the readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord in that they begin with the first verse and first words of the Acts of the Apostles, and they conclude with the final words of the Gospel of Luke.
What makes the above statement even more convincing is the fact that most scholars agree that it was Luke who was also the author of Acts. Thus, the statement which opens the first reading, “In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up…” becomes even more connected to the conclusion of today’s Gospel: “As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.”
Nonetheless, it is worth examining each of today’s key readings as they relate to Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven. It would seem scholars have had enjoyment with the first statement from Acts, which is addressed to Theophilus. Who might this Theophilus be? Deep-thinking intellectuals have established with credibility that Theophilus is everything from a wealthy philanthropist who funded Luke’s education as a doctor, to a relative of the Roman Emperor. Theophilus means, in Greek, “friend of God.” It is probably more likely that Luke is addressing this to each of us, each practicing Christian, all of whom are surely “friends of God.”
In the second reading, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes about what positions Jesus Christ assumed once He ascended. There is an important stewardship message in this reading when Paul states, “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened.” Stewards look beyond; stewards see with more than some intellectual appraisal. Paul’s appeal to us is that we know and understand that our relationship with the Lord is much deeper than a meeting of minds — it is a meeting and merging of spirits. It is something found in the depths of our souls. Paul’s hope is that in the very deepest recesses of our hearts we will come to know, to appreciate, and to love God, and to understand that God’s love for us is equally profound and unlimited.
Many who speak and write about stewardship as a way of life include lay witness as an important characteristic for parishes seeking to be stewardship parishes. There are two references to “witness” in today’s readings. The first reading quotes the Lord as saying “you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” Wherever you may live you can rest assured you live within those limits. You can also be certain that even though Jesus was giving this charge to the Apostles, He was also giving it to us. As stewards, wherever we are, we are expected to witness to our faith.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells them again, just prior to His Ascension, “You are witnesses of these things.” Witnessing has not changed since that time. In truth, to be a witness to our faith is more than talking about it though. Truly witnessing to our faith in Jesus is living as stewards. How we live and how we love in His name says more than any words can. As St. Francis once said, “Preach the Gospel every day. If necessary, use words.”
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection: May 12, 2013
May 12, 2013 –– The Ascension of the Lord
Acts 1: 1-11; Ps 47:1, 2-3, 6-9; Eph 1: 17-23; Lk 24: 46-53
According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gives his final instructions to His Apostles just prior to His Ascension into Heaven, which we celebrate today. He tells them that they are His witnesses, and charges them to go out and spread the Good News. In addition, in the first reading from Acts we learn that they are to spread this Good News, be witnesses, “to the ends of the earth.”
Nevertheless, we subsequently learn that they went back to Jerusalem (the Ascension occurred at Bethany, which is only a few miles from Jerusalem), and they prayed. In fact, they prayed until Pentecost (next Sunday, May 19). That was in many ways an act of stewardship. Jesus had cautioned them that they were not prepared for the ministry to which He was calling them. We are all called, but that does not mean we are prepared.
They prayed, and we need to pray. Scripture also notes that they “prayed with one accord.” Assuredly they prayed as individuals, but they also prayed together. As good stewards, we need to do that, too. It brings us closer to the Lord we must serve; it helps us to understand what Jesus expects of us. Prayer provides the foundation for lives of service, lives of stewardship. If we remain close to Jesus, we will never be left unprepared to be good stewards.
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: May 5, 2013
May 5, 2013 –– Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29; Ps 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8; Rev 21: 10-14, 22-23; Jn 14: 23-29
The readings for this Sixth Sunday of Easter provide us with both a history lesson about the Church virtually 20 years after Jesus’ crucifixion, and a deeper understanding of how God interacts with the Church, with its leadership, and with each of us on a daily basis.
From a historical perspective, we need to know and understand that all of the were originally written in a form of Greek called Koine (or “common”) Greek. It made sense to write in that particular language and form of Greek because it was the most widely spoken language of the day. Writing in common Greek meant the message could be spread more quickly and effectively.
One of the most important aspects of our sense of stewardship in relation to the Church is having a firm understanding of what and who we are. That means we need to be able to grasp the significance, especially historical importance, of the intricate facets of our faith and beliefs.
The first reading from Acts makes reference to the Council of Jerusalem (also known as the Apostolic Council), held around the year 50. The major reason for this gathering was to define how the Gentiles (which includes almost all of us) were expected to live in relation to the old Laws. The whole point of this reading is to point out those four representatives — Paul, Barnabas, Judas Barsabbas, and Silas — were to go to Antioch with a letter pointing out that the old laws did not apply to the Gentiles.
Revelations 21, the second reading, provides another insight into what Heaven is like. Sometimes we get a little too literal as we read the Book of Revelations. What is described is a city beyond our imaginations. Many scholars feel the walls illustrated are merely an implication of what a secure and safe place Heaven is — safe from the evils, the pains, the sadness, and the burdens of the world we know.
The key for us, however, is found in the Gospel of John. What we find there hearkens back to the fact that John wrote in common Greek. In his original text, St. John wrote of the paraklêtos. That word can be translated in many ways; we translate it as “advocate,” but other translations can be “counselor, comforter, helper.” Then John identifies this “advocate” as the Holy Spirit. The other message of this Gospel passage is that we must always trust in God. This is what makes us good stewards — the understanding that by trusting in God we accept the fact that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, is always with us, always assisting us with what we say, what we do, and what we accomplish. It reminds us of another important admonition for the good Catholic, the good steward — “With God all things are possible.”
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection: May 5, 2013
May 5, 2013 –– Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29; Ps 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8; Rev 21: 10-14, 22-23; Jn 14: 23-29
Almost every definition of stewardship eventually gets down to the notion of “trust” — trust in God. That is certainly Christ’s message in today’s Gospel, when He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” In other words, trust Me; trust My Father; and trust the Holy Spirit, Who is always with you and among you.
Nevertheless, we must never lose sight of the fact that trust as we understand, both it in relation to the Lord and in relation to stewardship, is a two-way street. Yes, it is our trust in God that allows us to take the risks involved in stewardship and give of ourselves and of what we have. Equally important, though, is that other feature of stewardship, of trust.
Trust has a dual meaning. Of course, it means that we have confidence in God as a presence, helper and comforter in our lives. Nonetheless, it also involves that other meaning of trust — something given to us, an interest we hold for God and the benefit of others. God entrusts us with several things we hold in trust: our families; the very earth on which we live; the Church; Holy Scripture and the Gospels. These are given to us in trust that we might nurture them, expand them, and return them to God with increase.
We are called to trust God, as He is our Advocate, but we must never forget that God trusts us, too. As Blessed Mother Teresa once said, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
Eric McArdle: Practical Parish Tips — The Weekly Bulletin and Stewardship
In a misguided effort to increase financial giving, many parishes have a stewardship section in their bulletins that only has detailed information on — you guessed it — the parish finances.
Below is a prime example I recently came across. This “stewardship” report, unfortunately, is typical in parishes throughout the country.
So, if this example is exactly what not to do, what should a parish do with regard to promoting stewardship in its weekly bulletin?
The key is to consistently focus each week on defining what stewardship is, how its practice can help each individual parishioner grow closer to God, and to connect the Sundays readings to living stewardship as a way of life. This is the formula for success we see in stewardship parishes across the country.
I realize this task may seem daunting, and perhaps may seem like more than your parish can handle. In an effort to help you get this done, this blog offers a simple solution with the resources you need to produce a consistent, on point stewardship message in your bulletin each week.
It’s as simple as copying and pasting the weekly “Stewardship Bulletin Reflection” we provide here and including them in your bulletin each week. We even run these reflections several weeks in advance to account for bulletin print deadlines. The service is free and, best of all it is proven to be successful as parishes all around the world presently utilize it.
The weekly parish bulletin is an important vehicle for parishes to promote stewardship as a way of life, and I hope you will take advantage of what we have to offer at The Catholic Steward and begin delivering a solid and holistic stewardship message to your parishioners each week.
Eric McArdle: Ask An Expert
From where does your faith education and formation come? Maybe it’s from listening attentively to the homily at Mass each week. Maybe it’s from reading about the lives of the saints. Or, maybe it’s by participating in a prayer group.
Whatever you do to enrich your faith formation and to draw closer to Christ, it’s essential to do it regularly. And, most importantly, it’s vital that you don’t simply rely on your own interpretations of the things you learn. St. John of the Cross has some wise words for those who try to fend for themselves when it comes to spiritual learning: “He who has himself as spiritual director has an idiot for a disciple.”
Often, we believe we already know all there is to know about our faith. We get comfortable in our own habits of praying or attending bible studies, and we sometimes forget these vehicles are meant to draw us closer to Christ by increasing our knowledge of our faith. After all, carrying a bible under your arm doesn’t teach you anything if you don’t open it up and read it.
Double check your faith “IQ” and make certain you aren’t remaining stagnant. And, most certainly, it’s crucial to seek out the wisdom of a faith expert to ensure you are learning Christ’s word and not following your own.
Fr. Dave Zimmer: Msgr. Thomas McGread — Mentor, Inspiration, and Guide
I suppose I always knew the day would come when Msgr. Thomas McGread would “meet his mentor, inspiration and guide,” our Lord and Savior, face to face. Shouldn’t we all be anticipating and preparing for the moment, in spite of the fact we know not the day, nor the hour, He will call each of us “home.”
For Msgr. McGread, that day was on April 1, 2013. I am most grateful to one of my friends from Catholic Stewardship Consultants who called me immediately with the news of his death. I suspect the timeliness of the call was because CSC knew Msgr. McGread and I have had a number of conversations in the past seven years, and Msgr. McGread always seemed to be interested in our parish and it’s progress in embracing the stewardship way of life. It was to be my hope, especially this year, to have one more conversation with him, but that was not meant to be.
I am left with discussing his life and mission of being a mentor, a source of inspiration, and a guide in understanding the stewardship way of life with his friends and colleagues, who knew him very well. They were and still are my link to that faithful priest from Wichita, known as the “Father of Catholic Stewardship” and my “mentor, inspiration and guide.”
There is a natural sadness in acknowledging the death of such a priest so dedicated to being a “faithful steward.” However, I cannot imagine where I would be now, having not met the man, heard the message from himself and others inspired by him. His humility prevented him from drawing attention to himself, but his commitment to being an advocate and messenger of the spirituality of stewardship will always be a gift I humbly accept and cherish and hope to model.
I cannot imagine where our parish would be now had we not come to know of Msgr. McGread’s life work in the area of stewardship. I can’t imagine where hundreds of other parishes along with their pastors would be now had they not heard him or the inspiring words he often shared at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kan., or in his many travels and speaking engagements throughout his priesthood. I wonder where the Conference of Catholic Bishops would have gotten their inspiration and insights when drafting the conference’s pastoral letter titled, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, first published in 1992 and expanded in 2002. It remains the definitive resource to understanding stewardship as a way of life.
I am convinced and know Msgr. McGread’s legacy will continue as long as those of us who remain committed to the stewardship way of life acknowledge, recall, and teach what we have gained from his mentorship, inspiration and guidance. We thank God for his presence and our fortunate interaction with his message and his practical wisdom, which he recognized as God’s gift to him, but never meant to be private. He shared it with enthusiasm and dedication, despite challenges, opposition, criticism and even at times, rejection. While serving as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, the parish flourished, becoming the “premier model” of living the stewardship way of life, even to this day. His explanation that the “Textbook for stewardship is the Word of God, the Bible; the classroom of stewardship is the Holy Mass,” made perfect sense when I first heard it from Msgr. McGread himself. And, now, eight years later, many along with myself are more convinced of the truth of those words.
While sadness hits us when we think of a loss, gratitude is a much stronger force that provides consolation and assurance when we need it most. I am not sure this is the time for that. What I am certain of is that I am profoundly grateful and blessed that what God has given me and so many others, through an Irish pastor from Wichita, we continue to be a “mentor, a source of inspiration and guide,” for the rest of my life. This is another one of God’s gifts for which I am most grateful.
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: April 28, 2013
April 28, 2013 –– Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 14: 21-27; Ps 145: 8-13 ; Rev 21: 1-5A ; Jn 13: 31-33A, 34-35
Love and redemption are the resolute messages for this Fifth Sunday of Easter. From the dedication and sacrifice of Sts. Paul and Barnabas in the first reading, to the visions of John in the second to one of Jesus’ last meetings on earth with the Apostles, those two themes come shining through — love and redemption.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the journeys of Paul and Barnabas, during which they “proclaimed the good news.” Of course, throughout their journeys they made it clear that Christ had “opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”
The second reading from Revelation involves visions of the future. In fact, the name of the book — Revelation — traces its roots to the Greek word apokalypsus, which means “unveiling” or “revelation.” John envisions our world of the future: “The old order has passed away.” He sees a world where we live hand in hand with the Lord — where there are no tears, no pain, no death, and no sorrow. The Lord “makes all things new.” This is the world on which we must focus.
This account of love and redemption culminates in the Gospel from John, where Jesus declares, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”
Isn’t this the formula to stewardship? Isn’t this the answer to the question, “What is a stewardship way of life?” Stewardship is an act of love. It is something we do with our freewill; it is not a law laid down by God or the Church.
In none of the readings does it become evident that God wants our resources. That is an error many make when trying to translate stewardship into how they live and what they do with their many gifts. Jesus does not want only our resources; He wants us. What Jesus was calling His followers to do, and what He is calling us to do, is to recognize how much He loves us (He redeemed us with His very life); He then asks us to love one another in the same way. It might be called a Circle of Love. Jesus loves us; we love Him; we love others in His name; they love Jesus; they love us.
The late Bishop Edward W. O’Rourke once described God’s love this way: “It is like sitting near a warm fire. You may not be rich; you may not be a genius. But you still feel the warmth. That is the way God loves us, but He also asks us to share the warmth with others.”
